Page 40 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

I nod, blink a few times, and attempt to straighten myself. I tilt my head wondering if I should ask the question that’s on my mind, but then figure I have nothing to lose.

What’s worse than getting sold?

“What’s on your mind, Lexi?”

“I just wonder… what’s your role in all of this?”

His lips lift to the side “You’re not scared of me, are you?”

“Should I be?”

“Don’t test me, Lexi. What I do here is none of your concern. As I mentioned before, it’s my job to make sure you look presentable and at your best before I take you downstairs.”

I chew the inside of my cheek then ask, “And what’s downstairs?”

“You’ll see—”

Before he can finish, a voice comes through on a radio. I frown wondering where it’s coming from, then see Christopher pick up a walkie-talkie, and he turns to step outside. Closing the door behind him, I quickly tiptoe to the door wanting to hear what’s being said. The door is thick, but I can definitely make out his words.

“Yes. I will. I’ll bring her out now.”

The other person says, “Is she going to be a problem? Do you think she needs more drugs?”

I hold my breath praying he doesn’t answer that with a yes. “No, I don’t think so at this stage. I’ve given her some brandy to calm her nerves. She’s ready.”

“That’s good.”

Quickly, I spin around and walk back to the bed.

Christopher opens the door announcing, “It’s showtime.”

My stomach twists in knots, and once again, I feel a little shaky.

No, I need to be strong, not only for myself but for Paige.

So, I take in a deep breath and stand tall. Icando this.

Christopher reaches out his hand, and I walk to him with courage that I’m not feeling. Once I’m beside him, he places his hand at the small of my back and ushers me out of the door. When we exit, I contemplate running away, but when I see men at the top of the staircase holding shotguns and wearing camouflage gear, I decide it’s not in my best interests right now.

My eye catches the attention of something, and then one by one, I see girls exiting rooms with a man in a suit just like Christopher and wearing the same negligee as me. I search the girls for my sister Paige, then I see her.

I start to run to her and cry out, “Paige! Paige!”

She sees me right away and takes off toward me, but we are both captured and dragged back to our spot.

“I told you to behave. Don’t make me do something to ruin that pretty face of yours.”

I look up at him and realize he’s serious. And here I was thinking maybe he could be one of the good guys and perhaps someone I could try and manipulate to help me. Obviously not.

I hear Paige cry out my name, and I yell, “It’s okay, Paige. Please don’t cry.” My heart breaks when I see how vulnerable she looks in what she’s wearing. She’s so small, and the negligee basically hangs off of her body. She’s wearing the same lipstick as me, and then I glance at the other girls and notice they are too. I count the girls and come up with eight.

Eight girls!

They all look frightened which is the same way I’m feeling.

There’s one girl, in particular, who looks around twelve.

My God, what are they going to do with her?

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